Blues v Highlanders
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anyone able to post the text?
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@kiwiwomble I don't think it's permitted to post the entire text, so here are a few snippets:
The Blues could be poised to unleash one of their prime offseason recruits against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. Height is a rare commodity in New Zealand rugby. The Blues, therefore, caused quite the stir when they plucked Sam Darry from the Crusaders' finely tuned system. Leon MacDonald was so keen to secure Darry's 2.03 metre frame that he offered the now 20-year-old prospect a three-year deal with the Blues before he had played a provincial match."It's good to have some tall timber up here. I can't remember the last time we had someone over two metres in our lineout. It's a pretty good option for us." Indeed some eight years ago, former All Blacks lock Anthony Boric was the last two-metre presence to stalk the Blues lineout. Before him you have to go back to Ali Williams, who last featured for the Blues in 2007. With the Highlanders using their lineout as an attacking weapon – kicking to the corner and attempting to rumble over their favoured pet play - this week may be the perfect opportunity to inject Darry's potentially disruptive height into the mix.While Darry will be expected to continually add bulk, Tuipulotu revealed his locking partner has already packed on muscle during his time in Auckland. He's put on five or so kilograms. He's definitely a hard trainer. -
@stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwiwomble I don't think it's permitted to post the entire text, so here are a few snippets:
The Blues could be poised to unleash one of their prime offseason recruits against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. Height is a rare commodity in New Zealand rugby. The Blues, therefore, caused quite the stir when they plucked Sam Darry from the Crusaders' finely tuned system. Leon MacDonald was so keen to secure Darry's 2.03 metre frame that he offered the now 20-year-old prospect a three-year deal with the Blues before he had played a provincial match."It's good to have some tall timber up here. ****I can't remember the last time we had someone over two metres in our lineout****. It's a pretty good option for us." Indeed some eight years ago, former All Blacks lock Anthony Boric was the last two-metre presence to stalk the Blues lineout. Before him you have to go back to Ali Williams, who last featured for the Blues in 2007. With the Highlanders using their lineout as an attacking weapon – kicking to the corner and attempting to rumble over their favoured pet play - this week may be the perfect opportunity to inject Darry's potentially disruptive height into the mix.While Darry will be expected to continually add bulk, Tuipulotu revealed his locking partner has already packed on muscle during his time in Auckland. He's put on five or so kilograms. He's definitely a hard trainer.Scott Scrafton must have slipped his mind, although he is listed at 2.00m so technically is not over 2.00m!
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
'listed as 2.01' doesn't mean 'actually 2.01'
Well it's the lower of the heights he's listed at. I think Tuipulotu said something off the cuff and then a NZH journalist followed up with something inaccurate
William Lloyd is the other name that immediately came to mind. He was very tall but not particularly solid (listed at 2.03)
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
No! The death of journalism as we know it ... inaccuracies from Granny
Well I'm not surprised they are wrong but it would be nice to have some accurate information from our rugby media.
Particularly ones that think their content is so valuable it belongs behind a paywall
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@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
William Lloyd sucked - he was like the kid that gets put into lock in a junior/schools team cos he is really tall and has nothing else.
Yes he was way out of his depth. I though Darry had a similar build during the NPC last year.
He's still young though.. I'm very surprised he's getting a run this early. I was expecting to see him lower in the rankings and pushing for a start in 2022
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In all fairness to Will Lloyd, he was only there in that horror 2015 season because of our massive injury toll.
I like how that article said Ali Williams last played for us in 2007 lol his last season for us was when he was captain in 2013.
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@african-monkey 2015 was a very good season for auckland, and he left after that, but agree regardless.
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@muddyriver For Auckland, yes 2015 was a good season, the Blues, it was a disaster.
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@mofitzy_ There was a rumour on here pre season that Pierce was off to the Chiefs with Mafileo. Then we were told by someone that he had re-signed for one season only and would then be looking elsewhere if chances don't come. There's always seemed to be some sort of disconnect between Pierce and Coventry. Coventry rarely started him for Harbour, even starting inexperienced rookies ahead of him alongside Cowley-Tuioti. I know his first two seasons with the Blues were affected by injury but he's made only seven appearances in three seasons, with maybe one start? Makes me wonder if there is a perceived training, fitness or attitude problem because the few times he has got a run for the Blues he appears to contribute well on the field. Mystery. At 122kgs, 203cm (wiki stats) and still only 23 years old I think he would be a good fit at the Chiefs or Canes.
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@daffy-jaffy the Canes could do with some height, other than Ardie of course...
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bit of a change around, i thought MMT had been firing quite well
Collins might have been my preferred 13 once paea got injured but im nervous for his first start of the year against a good blues team
and i'll say it every week..sio? another card last week and still starts, whats TUJ got to do to get a run?
and no Alaimalo, will have t have a look around to see if he has an injury
is it me or does Hugh Renton look like hes in his earl 40's, 24?!
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@kiwiwomble said in Blues v Highlanders:
and no Alaimalo, will have t have a look around to see if he has an injury
If he isn't injured his move south is going well. Not!
